Moistening device.



PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

C. W. GRAY MOIS'I'ENING DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 31, 1906 wzwgww.j

- inders.

Union-p STATES PATENT ent ies.-

CHARLES W. GRAY, OF CHATTAlVOOGA, TENl iESSEE.

MQISTENIN G DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 55. 1997 Application filed August 31. 1906- Serisl No.332.748.

velops, and has several objects in view, as will appearfrom adescription of the accompanying drawing, showing the preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawing-Figure 1 is a plan view'of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention. Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation, partially in section,on line 2 2 of Fig. l. 3is a sectional elevation taken through a planecontaining-the axcsof the two cylinders preferably entering into theconstruction of the machine.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe different figures.

I have indicated a standard a that carries bearings b, b, c, c forhollow cylinder rollers a and e, these rollers being provided with stubshafts at their ends forengagement with said bi-arings. The saidcylinders are provided with stoppers as indicated atf and 9, upon theremoval whereof water may be passed into the cyl- The cylinders areprovided with perforations h and 2', preferably at their forward ends,each perforation desirably being confined to theupper segment of eachcylinder. The cylinders, by being counterweighted at points Irandlopposite the said perforations,

. are normally placed in position with said perforations uppermost. Theportions of the cylinders where the perforations are disposed, are.surrounded by rings of absorbent material in and n that are charged withthe .water permitted to flow through the perforations.

The cylinders are provided with vent openings 0 and p disposed oppositeto the perforations, through which openings, when the cylinders havebeen given a halt turn, air may pass to promote the passage of waterthrough the perforations, said openings at the time being unsealed, ofcourse. Normally, the. vent openings oand p should be sealed, to whichend some such device as rubber bands q, -r may be,employed.

The upper moistening cylinder m is designed to moisten'th gummed edges.of thienvelop flaps, while the lower moistening cylinder it is providedto moisten the portions'oi the envelops where the stamps are usuallylocatedfto which end the" operator in passing the envelope between therollers, applies thumb pressure to the envelops as they are abouttoissue from between the rollers, to, bring the envelops into contact withthe moistening cylinder 11. The cylinders m,- 'n are desirably off-set,as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3, so that the cylinder or may be inposition to moisten the flaps while the cylinder n is in positiontotnoisten In order that the en-v their passage between the-rings orcylinders of ielt n do not overlap vertically where they meet, but.

meeting point are substenthe stamp receiving surfaces. velops may not bekinked in the cylinders or rollers, or their peripheries at the 'tiallyin line. In view of this last ieatu'reof construction, I employ afilling device, preferably inthe form' of a plurality of rings .9, thatserve to hold the fiapspf the envelope in engagement with the cylinderm.

The envelope upon issuing from the moisteningdevice, are passed betweenthe converging members t, u of a folding device, which and gives them aset, So that quickly pressed into place by hand or suitable machine. Thediverging ends of the folding plates t and u face the rollers, while theconverging ends are furthest away from the rollers. The upper margin ofthe folding plate l is desirably obliquely disposedqwith respect to theaxes of rotation of the-cylind rs. the portion of the margin next to therollers bring further to the re'ar than the portion of the marginfurthest re-' moved l'r'om the rollers. u

While 1 have herein shown and pa rticularly'described the preferredembodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the preciseconstruction shown, as changes may readily be znadewithout departingfrom the spirit of the-invention, but,

they may thereafter be Having thus described my invention, 1 claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters-Patent the following:

partially closes the flaps- 1. A device of the class described lncludlngtwo molstenenvelops that are to receive the stamps.

2. A device of the cluss described including two moistening rollershaving displaced axes, one roller projectlng beyond the other, wherebyone roller is purtlculurly adapted for moistenlng envelop flaps and theother roller is particularly udupted -for envelops that are to'rcccl\'sthe stumps, the molstenlng perlpherles 'of sold rollers beingsubstnntlully where tlierollers meet to prevent the envelops from beingklnked.-

3. -A device-of the class described including two moistenlng rollershaving displaced use, one roller projecting beyond the other, wherebyone roller is particularly adapted for inolstenlng envelop flnps und theother roller is particularly adapted for molstenlng portions of theenvelope that are to receive the stamps. the molstenlng peripheries ofsuid rollers being substantially in line where the rollers meet toprevent the envelope from being kluked, the tiller ring or ringssurrounding the roller companion to the flap molstenlng roller forholding the flaps against the flap molstenlng roller us the cm'elopspass between the rollers."

4. A device of the class described including two moistenlug rollershaving displaced uxes, one roller projecting moistenlng portions of thein line beyond the other, whereby one roller is particularly adapted formolstenlng envelop flaps und thp other roller:

90 is particularly adapted for moistenlng portions of the isparticularly adapted for moistening portions of the envelops that are toreceive the stamps, said moistenin 5. A device of the class describedincludingtwo moistenlng rollers having displaced axes, one rollerprojcciing beyond the other, whereby one roller is particularly adaptedfor moistenlng envelop flops and the other roller is particularlyadapted for moistening portions of the envelopsthnt are to receive thestamps, the moistening peripheries of said rollers being substantiallyin line where the rollers meet to prevent the envelops from beingkinked, said m'oistening rollers including perforated water containingcylinders and rings of absorbent material surrounding the cylinderswhere the perforations are located,- which rings of absorbent materialconvey the moisture to tiie envelops,

6. A device of the class described including two moistenlng rollershaving displaced axes, one roller projecting beyond the other, wherebyone roller is particularly adapted tor molstenlng envelop flaps and theother roller is particularly adapted for moistening portions of theenvelope that are to receive the stamps, the moisteniug peripheries ofsaid rollers being substantially in line where the rollers meet toprevent the envelope from being, kinkcd,

the filler ring or rings surrounding the roller companion to the fiapmoistenlng roller for holding the flaps against the flap moistenlngroller as the cnvelops pass between the rollers, said moistening rollersincluding perforated water-containing cylinders and rings of absorbentmaterial surrounding the cylinders where the perforations are located,which rings of absorbent material convey the moisture to the envelops.

7. A. device of the class described including two moistcning rollershaving displaced axes, one i'oller pr0jccting beyond the.other, wherebyone roller is pzirticulnrly adapted for moistening envelop flaps and theother roller is particularly adapted for moistening portions of the-envelops that are to receive the stamps, said inoisteniug rollersincluding perforated water-containing cylinders and rings of absorbentmaterial surrounding the cylinders where the perforations are located,which rings of absorbsooner ent material convey the moisture to theenrelops. said perforations extending throughout scgulcuts oi thecylinders.

Fl. A device of the cl: s described including two moisiening rollershaving displaced axes, ouc roller projecting beyond the other, wherebyone roller is particularly adapted for moistcuiug cnrclop ilzips and theother roller is particularly adapted for moisicuing portions of theenvelops that are'to receive the stamps, the moislening peripheries ofsaid rollers being substantially in line where the rollers meet toprevent the onvclops from being kluked, said moistening rollersincluding perior; ed W21i'il' t'i lliiilllling cylinders where theperforations are located, which rings of absorbent material convey themoislul'e in the cnvclops, said perforations extending throughoutsegments of the cylinders.

i), A device of the cl ss described including two moisieniug rollershaving displaced uxcs, Ullt roller projecting beyond the other,\x'hcrcby one, roller is particularly ullnpted for moislouiug cnrolopllups and the other roller is particularly adapted for inoisiouiugportions of thu onvclops that are to-receive the stamps, the moisteningperipheries of said rollers being substantially in line where therolleis meet to prevent the cnvclops from being kinked, the lillcr ringor rings surrounding the roller companion to the ilap moislcuing rollerfor holding; the ilups against the ilup moisleuing roller as theenvelups pass between the rollers, said rnoistenlng rollers includingperforated \\'utcrcontaining cylinders and rings of absorbent materialsurrounding the cylinders where the perforations are located, whichrings of absorbent material convey the moisture to the euvelops, saidperforations extending througliout segments of the cylinders. 10. Adevice of the class described including :1 moistening roller comprisinga water-containing cylinder perfOl'kliZEd throughout a segmental portionthereof, and )1 ring of absorbent material surrounding the materialwhere the cylinder perforations are located, said cylinder beingco\intei'- \vcii:litcd to maintain said perforations normally uperinost.

l witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this twenty ninth day ofAugust A. 1)., 1906.

CHARLES W. GRAY. Witnesses I JAcK MoN'rooMnux, WM. H. FRXNK.

